Avoid antibiotics, antipyretics,vaccines to stay healthy

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Source: American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology

2006-01-11 URL:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/01/060111073504.htm

 

Anthroposophic Lifestyle Reduces Risk Of Allergic Disease In Children

Certain features of the anthroposophic lifestyle, such as restrictive use of

antibiotics and fever antipyretics, reduce the risk of allergic disease in

children, according to a new study.

Allergic Disease and Sensitization in Steiner School Children is featured in

the January 2006 issue of the Journal of Allergy & Clinical Immunology (JACI)

and is currently available on the JACI's Web site at www.jacionline.org. The

JACI is the peer-reviewed, scientific journal of the American Academy of

Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI).

The study, which focused on more than 6,600 children from five European

countries ages 5 to 13, showed that children in the Steiner schools, which are

similar to Waldorf schools, who are often raised in an anthroposophic lifestyle,

have a lower risk of allergy. Austrian scientist and philosopher Rudolf Steiner

developed the anthroposophic lifestyle in which health is a combination of mind,

body and spiritual balance; his followers integrate both modern medicine with

alternative, nature-based treatments. The study compared the Steiner school

children with their non-Steiner counterparts who lived in the same region.

The purpose of the Prevention of Allergy--Risk Factors for Sensitization

Related to Farming and Anthroposophic Lifestyle (PARSIFAL) study was to identify

possible protective factors for allergy associated with the anthroposophic

lifestyle. A previous Swedish study showed a reduced risk of atophy, but the

specific reason behind that was not discovered.

Information about environmental exposure, history of infections, diet, animal

contact, anthroposophic lifestyle and symptoms and diagnoses of allergic

diseases was collected through a parental questionnaire. A blood sample was also

collected from the children who resided in Austria, Germany, Sweden, Switzerland

and The Netherlands.

Researchers observed a lower prevalence of current symptoms and doctor's

diagnosis of rhinoconjunctivitis and atopic eczema and asthma and atopic

sensitization in the Steiner school children compared to non-Steiner children.

Early use of antibiotics and fever reducers, along with the measles, mumps and

rubella vaccination were also associated with increased risks of several

allergic symptoms and doctor's diagnoses.